Precision boring machine



Feb. 8, 1944. w 3 JOHNSON 2,341,383

PRECIS ION BORING MACHINE Filed 001:. 26, 1940 I 4 Sheets-Sheet l um v IN VEN TOR.

Wm wee J. s. v-o/mso/v 1944- w. .1. s. JOHNSON 2,341,333

PRECISION BORING MACHINE Filed Oct. 26, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 nnnnn *1 l EASE L nvs 3;; BASE LINE Feb 1944- w. .1. s. JOHNSON PRECISIQN BORING MACHINE Filed Oct. 26, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

WHLLfiCE J 5. JOHNSON wam Feb. 8, 1944. w J s JQHNSON 2,341,383

PRECISION BORING MACHINE Filed Oct. 26, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ll- W... M, 7

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Patented Feb. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE rancrsron BORING MACHINE poration Application October 26, 1940, Serial No. 362,920

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to machine tools. and particularly to machines of precision character capable of performing locating, boring, checking, drilling, reaming, milling, and analogous operations with extreme accuracy in work mounted in the machine.

Heretofore, rotary tables have been specially provided in jig boring and similar production machines for the purpose of spacing holes accurately in a circle around the work. After the boring spindle was disposed the desired radius from the center of the work, the holes were located or drilled in a circle by indexing or tuming the rotary table the required angular amounts in degrees and minutes, starting from a suitable base-line. for determining-such angular table movements utilizes spaced graduationa-sometimes with a supplemental Vernier, but the limitations of accuracy thus visually determined are such that the method is, in many cases, not productive of satisfactory accuracy.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to index or adjust a rotary table or swivel tool support the desired angular extent in a more accurate and rapid manner, and without limitations by the diameter of the table or support, or the fineness of the graduations on its periphery. In furtherance of this objective, the table or tool support is arranged so that a fixed reference point thereon is aligned with a definite base-line, or occupies some other known position with respect thereto. The tool or support is moved rectilinearly with respect to this baseline by a linear distance determined by the desired angular or arcuate adjustment.

The method previously used The work, and also in drilling holes angularly in the work, as well as boring tapered holes therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine capable of precise rectilinear adjustment, as opposed to polar adjustment, for the purpose of performing various operations with extreme accuracy in work secured to the machine.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and 11- J lustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the present invention;

shifted object is then rotated until its reference point again occupies its original position with respect to the base-line, after which, in some cases, it is translated linearly back to the base-line the distance that it was originally displaced. By this means, the table or support is precisely rotated the desired angle, without dependence upon arcuategraduatiens on its periphery, and independently of its diameter. The necessary angular displacement is accurately determined and controlled by indicating devices registering during the rectilinear feeding of the table or support, and these devices may be so related to the feeding movement as to indicate the adjustment accurately in very small increments.

Another object of the invention is toprovide an improved machine tool capable of precision adjustments in angularly spacing holes in the Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine, parts being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is an elevation on an enlarged scale, as seen from the front of the rotary table of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a section taken generally along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section taken generally along the line 5-5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional and elevational view of part of the mechanism for indexing the rotary table;

Fig. 7 is a section taken generally along the line 1-1 in Fig. 6;

Figs. 8a to 8d, inclusive, are diagrammatic representations of the manner of angularly adjusting the work table;

Figs. 9a to 9d, inclusive, are diagrammatic representations of the manner of angularly adjusting the tool spindle.

As shown in the drawings, the machine tool includes a main body or support It having an indexing rotary table II provided with T slots l2 adapted to receive suitable clamps (not shown) for the purpose of fastening work in spaced parallel relation to the face of the table, in a well known manner. This table II is secured to a spindle l3 rotatably mounted in a head support or housing It by means of anti-friction bearings l5, l5a. This head l4 and the elements carried thereby are mounted for vertical sliding movement on the spaced vertical way shafts l6, l6 fixed to the body Ill of the machine, such vertical movement being obtained by a vertical measuring screw l1 mounted in the head ll be-' tween the ways l6, IS, with its threads received within a feed-nut device l8 rotatably mounted in the body of the machine by the anti-friction bearing 20. Inasmuch as this nut device II is prevented trom moving axially, its rotation in either direction will produce corresponding vertical movement of the measuring screw l1 and vertical translation of the head i4 and rotary table II carried thereby.

Rotation of the nut l8 in either direction is initiated by a hand wheel 2| fixed to a driving shaft 22 rotatably mounted in the body I of the machine, and having a bevel pinion 23 at its inner end meshing with a bevel gear can be caused to read in suitable units. For

example, they may read to hundredths of an inch of vertical movement of the measuring screw iii. For a still more accurate indication of the extent of feeding of this screw i'l, a micrometer dial 29 or 29s graduated to read in thousandths of an inch may be secured to the hand wheel 23 or the nut it, while the indications on this particular dial may cooperate with a micrometer dial Vernier 30 or 30:: fixed to the housing, and readable to a ten-thousandth of an inch.

Due to the arrangement of indicators described above, accurate adjustments can be made of the measuring screw it and the rotary table I I carried by the head support it. After the desired feeding or measuring movement of the vertical screw has been made, it can be held in this position by preventing rotation of the nut It by means of a clamp ring 3! movable to clamping position against the periphery of the feed nut is by rotating a clamp lever 32 and its attached screw 33 threaded into the ring. Downward movement of this screw 33 will force its inclined face as against the companion face 35 on the angularly disposed clamp pin 3t urging the latter into contact with the nut is and reactively drawing the clamp ring 35 frictionally against the nut rim. Whenever an adjustment is to be made, the clamping device is released from the nut it, permitting its rotation.

The indexing table ii is rotatable from a suitable source of power (not shown) by transmitting the driving effort through a belt ill engageable with a pulley 3t fixed to the table spindle it. Also secured to this spindle is a worm wheel 39 engageable by a worm til fastened to a shaft ti extending through a slot 52 in the machine body to its exterior, where a hand wheel 63 is secured to the shaft M for the purpose of rotating it, and through the worm dd and worm wheel 39 correspondingly rotating or angularly adjusting to the indexing table it. The worm 40 is engageable with and disengageable from the worm wheel as by rotatably mounting its shaft M in a housing 68 pivoted on a fulcrum pin secured to the rotary table housing or head it. Movement of this housing ll about its fulcrum 45 is obtainable through the agency of a handle 46 secured to the lower end of the housing 44 and cooperable with the table head l4. Whenever the rotary table II is to be power driven, the worm 40 is demeshed from the worm wheel 39, but at other times it may remain in engagement therewith.

The work secured to the rotary table II can be acted upon by a suitable tool inserted in a chuck carried by a spindle 50. This spindle is' driven by an electric motor 5|, whose motion is transmitted from the driving sheaves 52 fixed to the motor shaft, through the V-belt 53 to the driven sheaves 54 coupled to the spindle. The sheaves 52, 54 are stepped to allow the ratio of transmission between the motor SI and the spindle to be varied.

Rotation of the spindle 50 can be prevented by looking it to the spindle housing 55 by suitably manipulating the spindle clamp lever 58. The spindle housing is movable to and from the work by being mounted on a compound slide 51 including a hand feed 58 which can cause movement of the spindle Bil, its housing 55, and associated driving mechanism SI, 52, 54, to and from the work upon rotation of the hand wheel 58. Sliding movement of the spindle housing 55 in this manner may be prevented by means of the compound slide clamp lever 59.

The lower portion of the compound slide 51 is secured to a compound swivel 8t angularly adjustable on a cross-carriage 8| slidable along the spaced cross ways shafts 82, 62 secured to the main carriage 63 of the machine. This latter carriage 63 is shiftable to and from the rotary table II by being slidably mounted on the saddle 64 and the longitudinal ways 65, 65 secured to the machine body Ill. Advancement of this main carriage 63 along its ways may be obtained in the-usual manner by rotating the apron hand feed 66, or it may be power operated by suitably manipulating the power feed lever 67 to couple the power carriage feed screw it to the carriage 63, in a known manner.

The cross-carnage 6! is shiftable transversely along the cross-carriage ways 62, 62 by means of the cross measuring screw 16, whose end portions are rotatably mounted in the ends of the main carriage 63 and whose threaded portion cooperates with a mating nut secured to the cross-carriage 6!. It is apparent that rotation of the cross measuring screw 15 by means of a hand wheel 17 secured thereto will shift the entire cross-carriage 6i and the compound El, til, spindle 5t, and motor drive Si, 53 transversely of the machine, or across the face of the rotary table H. The extent of such movement is indicated by a mechanical counter 18 coupled to the cross measuring screw I5 by the flexible drive shaft It. By way of example, this counter 18 can indicate to hundredths of an inch of transverse feeding of the cross-carriage ti, while more accurate indications are obtainable by securing a micrometer dial to the hand feed wheel Ill reading in thousandths of an inch. This dial 8% is cooperable with a stationary vernier dial 8! which can readily be read to a ten-thousandths of an inch.

The accuracy with which the table H is adjustable vertically and the precise character of the transverse adjustment of the cross-carriage 5! permits the spindle 50 and table Ii to be moved with respect to one another so as to locate a tool at any point on the work fastened to the table. With the spindle swivel 60 arranged so that the spindle axis is at right angles to the face of the table, it is possible to locate or drill holes in the work solely by rectilinearly feeding the table II or cross-carriage Bl, or both, to the desired extent. Respective horizontal and vertical base-lines should be established on the work and vertical feeding movement of the table II made from 'the horizontal line, or from a horizontal surface plate 9|a removably mounted on the ways 65, while horizontal feeding movement of the cross-carriage 6| and spindle 50 is made from the vertical base-line. Knowing the distances of the various holes from these base-lines, the table feed screw H and the cross-carriage 6! may be shifted to the desired extent to position the cutting tool secured to the spindle very accurately at the exact point where the hole is to be drilled or otherwise formedin the work.

It is preferable that jig boring drawin s come from the drafting room with all dimensions given in relation to base-lines intersecting at a convenient point of th work, in order to eliminate any figuring or computing by the machine operator and facilitating rapid production of the work.

The operator need only position his cross-car.

riage BI and his table II at the base-lines and set his indicators to zero, and then make the necessary vertical and horizontal adjustments in the table and cross-carriage positions, respectively, to the extent indicated by the drawings. In this manner, holes may be drilled at any point in the work, and they may even be disposed in a circular path around the work to a greater degree of accuracy than if the table were rotated to the desired angular extent, as when the usual polar methods of measurement are employed.

It is not only possible to translate the indexing table vertically to various positions by the vertical measuring screw I1 and its associated mechanisms, but it can be angularly adjusted to different arcuate extents through the worm 40 and worm wheel 39. Polar angular measurement is readily obtainable in a rapid manner by means of the degree graduations 82 on the periphery of the table, which are cooperable with the vernier Ml, preferably reading in minutes or otherfractions of a degree. The table II can be held rotatably in any adjusted position by means of the table clamp 84 operable through the clamp lever" Due to the rectilinear and rotary movement oi the table I, and the transverse feeding of the cross-carriage 6| and the spindle 50 mounted thereon, holes may be drilled, located, or otherwise operated upon at any position of thework fastened to the table. The ability to rotate the compound 51, 60 on the carriage swivel 60a also permits angle boring or drilling in'the work. The swivel head 60 may also be suitably graduated in degrees or fractions thereof, and cooperable with a vernier. to obtain a rapid adiu'stmentof the swivel to the desired angular extent.

While the angular shifting of the rotary table i and compound swivel 60 may, possibly be accomplished within an accuracy of one minute of is zero and pin 90a is aligned with pin 94. This can be determined by measurement from the surface plate 9|a with a suitable dial indicator or other surface gauge in the manner explained in the Meyer Patent No. 2,178,264 later mentioned, or with a suitable indicator held in the boring spindle or in any other position on the spindle head, and causing movement of this indicator over the pins by translating the cross-carriage 6| along its ways 62.

Let it be assumed that it is desired to rotate the work on the rotary table by a specified arcuate distance. The table pin 90d and the intermediate pin 94 on the bracket are first aligned with the imaginary horizontal base-line 9| (see Fig:8a)- as determined by a dial indicator. The table head or housing It is then moved linearly by means of the vertical hand feed wheel 2|, gearing 23, 24 and the vertical measuring screw H to shift the table II and indexing bracket 92 by a vertical distance a: which is equivalent to the sine of the desired angle q (see Fig. 8b). This linear distance a: will be the radius that the table pin 90a is removed from the center of the table times the sine of the desired angle q. Following the linear shifting of the table I and bracket 92, the table is rotated by means of the hand wheel 43 and associated worm and worm wheel 39 in a proper direction until the table pin 90a is again in exact alignment with the base-line 9| (see Fig. 80), as determined by the dial indicator. The table is then clamped in this position and the feed screw hand wheel 2| is reversely rotated to translate the intermediate pin 9d on the indexing bracket 92 back to its initial position in alignment with the base-line 9| (see Fig. 8d). As a result of this movement, the center of the rotary table occupies its original axial position, but the table H itself has been rotated by the desired angle q.

It will be noted that the desired angular move- I ment of the table has been efiected as soon as arc, much greater angular accuracy maybe obport It, extending around the periphery of .the.

table adjacent one side thereof, where it carries a plurality of pins 93, 94, 95. One of the pins Mo on the rotary table is initially aligned with an imaginary horizontal base-line or reference plane 9|, and the intermediate bracket pin 94 occupies the same relation to this base-lme, as does the table axis, when the reading on scale 83 For certain types of work this is sufficient, but if the work requires a number of angularly spaced holes to be drilled or bored by the use of spindle 50 it is necessary, following the angular adjustment, to bring the rotary table back to its previous rectilinear path position. Thus, for example, a first or starting hole having been finished with the table axis at the same vertical spacing as the axis of spindle 50 the first operation for the locating of a second angularly spaced hole will be to position one of the pins 90 in predetermined position relative to the imaginary base or reference line as in Fig. 8a. Where both reference pins are cylindrical and of the same diameter, as shown, this can be done by adjusting the pin 90 at the same vertical level as the pin 94. Next the support and rotary table are rectilinearly shifted, as described and as indicated in Fig. 8b. The table is then rotated as describw and as indicated in Fig. 80 to effect the angular spacing of the first and second hole and, finally, the rotary table is reversely rectilinearly shifted, as

. described and as indicated in Fig. 8:1, to bring the second hole to the same vertical height as the spindle 50 for the finishing of the hole, the cross adjustment of the spindle 50 being utilized to correctly locate the spindle in cases where the radial location of the second hole differs from that of the first hole. Such operations may proceed in like manner for any numberof spaced holes whereby to correctly position each of the holes.

As was aforementioned, the indicating mechanical counter 25, micrometer dial 29 or 29a and vernier dial 30 or tile permit, accurate rectilinear adjustments of the table I i to be made within at least a ten-thousandths of an inch. Such accurate adjustments are reflected in the above described sine method of angularly shifting the rotary table through the use of linear movements. Instead of being able to adjust the rotary table to an accuracy of only one minute, as when the graduations on its periphery are used, much greater accuracies can be obtained within about plus or minus 1 second of arc. This is all done in a rapid manner, with all of the necessary movable parts readily accessible to the operator.

In a similar manner, the spindle 50 may be swiveled with great accuracy to angularly position it with respect to the face of the rotary table ii and the work clamped thereto. A pin 91 may be spaced a radial distance from the center of the swivel head fill for cooperation with a pin 98 on an indexing bracket 99 fixed to the cross-carriage swivel support 60a. The pin 9'! on the swivel head 60 and the pin 98 on the bracket 99 would be aligned with a suitable imaginary base-line I80 extending crosswise of the way shafts 52 on the main carriage 63, or parallel to the longitudinal ways 65 of the machine (see Fig. 9a.). The hand wheel Ti would be rotated to shift the carriage Bi rectilinearly along the cross ways 62, 62 a distance 1 equal to the radius of the head pin 97 from the center of the swivel times the sine of the desired angle 1" of adjustment (see Fig. 9b), the swivel 60 then being rotated so as to position its pin 91 back in alignment with the base-line I (see Fig. 9c)

' after which the hand feed I'll of the carriage would be reversely rotated to bring the index pin 98 to its initial position in alignment with the base-line iilil (see Fig. 9d). Of course, the swivel head it would be clamped in this position of adjustment so as to maintain the boring angle of the spindle 50 with respect to the rotary table it.

It is to be noted that accurate indications on the counter l8, micrometer dial till, and vernier at are obtainable in adjusting the cross-carriage 6i and swivel head 68 to the same degree as is obtainable in angularly adjusting the rotary table ii. In angularly adjusting both parts, if the counter and micrometer dials are initially set at zero, they may be first shifted the desired linear distance as shown on these indicating devices, and then returned to their initial positions, which can be exactly determined since the indicators would again read zero.

The machine described is useful for drilling a plurality of holes accurately in a circle around the work. The spindle 58 would be disposed at right angles to the face of the table and moved outwardly from its center to the desired radius. The first hole would be drilled in the work by moving the spindle towards the table either by means of the compound hand feed 58 or by the power'carriage feed screw 68. After this first hole had been drilled, the rotary table ll would be indexed the desired arcuate extent, preferably by the sine method heretofore described, and the second hole drilled in the work. This cycle of operation is repeated until all of the desired holes have been formed in the work.

Similarly, if a hole is to be bored at an angle in the work, the compound swivel 8|! can be rotated the desired arcuate extent, preferably by the above described sine method, and the rotating spindle 50 moved into the work by the compound hand feed 58.

If a tapered hole is to be bored in the work, the compound swivel 60 is adjusted to the taper angle desired, and the tool fastened to the spindle moved up to the work by advancing the main carriage 63 along its ways 65, 85. The table II is rotated from a source of power through the belt ti and pulley-38, and the spindle housing it moved along its compound slide 51 by the hand feed 58 of the compound to bore or cut the desired tapered hole in the work. It is to be understood that when a tapered boring operation is being performed, the center of the rotary table head is at the same level as the boring spindle, and that the worm 40 has been disengaged from the worm gear 39 to enable rotation of the table by power means.

Various other operations are performable with the machine described. For example, layout work and inspection can be done rapidly and accurately. In inspecting holes arcuately disposed in a circle, whether or not the angular displacement falls within a plus or minus permissible error is, determinable by using the same sine method heretofore described in connection with the pin 94 and the pin or pins 9|! on the table ii. The bracket pins 93 and 95 are disposed on opposite sides of the intermediate pin 94, and may be used as oppositely directed reference faces for the purpose of laying out and/or checking the lines or points of a work piece, in the manner particularly pointed out in United States Patent No. 2.178264.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine tool the combination of a frame, a first support guided on said frame for movement in a rectilinear path, a second support carried by said first support for bodily rectilinear movement therewith and pivoted thereon for angular movement about an axis which is in fixed relation to the first support and vertical to said rectilinear path thereof, a first member fixed with said first support and having a gauging surface adjacent the periphery of the second support and in predetermined fixed relation to a reference line vertical both to said axis and to said rectilinear path and passing through said axis, a second member carried by said second support and having a gauging surface adjacent the periphery thereof and coinciding with a portion of the surface of a cylinder which is axially parallel with the axis of said second support, said second member being adjustable relative to said first support to effect a predetermined position of the gauging surface thereof relative to said reference line, means for effecting a predetermined rectilinear movement of said first and second supports while maintaining said second support in an angular position maintaining said second member gauging surface and in said predetermined position relative to the refer ence line, and means for angular adjustment of said second support to return said second member gauging surface to the same position in said rectilinear path which it occupied previous to said predetermined rectilinear movement of the first support and while maintaining said first and second supports in the position of said predetermined rectilinear movement; whereby to effect a predetermined angular movement of said second support relative to said reference line.

2. In a machine tool the combination of a frame, a first support guided on said frame for movement in a rectilinear path, a second support carried by said first support for bodily rectilinear movement therewith and pivoted thereon for angular movement about an axis which is in fixed relation to the first support and vertical to said rectilinear path thereof, a first member fixed with said first support and having a gauging surface adjacent the periphery of the second support and in predetermined fixed relation to a reference line vertical both to said axis and to said rectilinear path and passing through said axis, a second member carried by said second support and having a gauging surface adjacent the periphery thereof and coinciding with a portion of the surface of a cylinder which is axially parallel with the axis of said second support, said second member being adjustable relative to said first support to effect a predetermined position of the gauging surface theseof relative to said reference line, means for efiecting a predetermined rectilinear movement of said first support while maintaining said second support in an angular position maintaining said second member gauging surface in said predetermined position relative to the reference line, means for angular adjustment of said second support to return said second member gauging surface to the same position in said rectilinear path which it occupied previous to said predetermined rectilinear movement and while maintaining said first support in the position of said predetermined rectilinear movement thereof, and means for reverse rectilinear movement of said first support to return said first member gauging surface to the same position in said rectilinear path which it occupied previous to said predetermined rectilinear movement and while maintaining said second support in the position of said angular adjustment thereof.

3. In a machine tool the combination of a frame, a first support guided on said frame for movement in a rectilinear path, a second support carried by said first support for bodily rectilinear movement therewith and pivoted thereon for angular movement about an axis which is in fixedrelation to the first support and vertical to said rectilinear path thereof, a first member fixed with said first support and having a gauging surface adjacent the periphery of the second support and in predetermined fixed relation to a reference line vertical both to said axis and to said rectilinear path and passing through said axis, a second member carried by said second support and having a. gauging surface adjacent the periphery thereof and coinciding with a portion of the surface of a cylinder which is axially parallel with the'axls of said second support, said second member being adjustable relative to said first support to effect a predetermined position of the gauging surface thereof relative to said reference line, means for efiecting a predetermined rectilinear movement of said first and second supports while maintaining said second member gauging surface in said predetermined position relative to the reference line, means for angular adjustment of said second support to return said second member gauging surface to the same position in said rectilinear path which it occupied previous to said'predetermined rectilinear movement and while maintaining said first and second supports in the position of said predetermined rectilinear movement, means for reverse rectilinear movement of said first and second supports, to return said first member gauging portion to the same position in said rectilinear path which it occupied previous to said predetermined rectilinear movement thereof and while maintaining said second support in the position of said angular adjustment thereof, a rotatabl tool spindle axially parallel with the axis of said second support, and a spindle support carried by said frame and positioning said spindle axis in a common plane with-said second support axis when said first support is in the position occupied following said reverse rectilinear movement thereof, said third support being guided on said frame for rectilinear movement in a path maintaining the spindle axis in said common plane and vertical to the rectilinear path of movement of said first support.

4. In a machine tool having a frame, the combination of a rotatable tool spindle, a spindle first support guided on said frame for movement in a rectilinear path, a spindle second support carried on said first support for movement therewith and angularly adjustable thereon about an axis vertical to said rectilinear path, a spindle carrier rotatably supporting said spindle and carried on said second support and guided thereon for rectilinear movement in various paths as determined by the angular adjustment thereof, a first member fixed with said first support and having a gauging surface adjacent the periphery of said second support and in fixed relation to a reference line vertical both to the axis thereof and to said rectilinear path and passing through said axis, a second member carried by said second support and having a gauging surface adjacent the periphery thereof and coinciding with a portion of the surface of a cylinder which is axially parallel with the axis of said second support, said second member being adjustable relative to said first support to effect a predetermined position of the gauging surface thereof relative to said reference line, means for efiecting a predetermined rectilinear movement of said first and second supports while maintaining said second support inan angular position maintaining said second member gauging surface in said predetermined position relative to the reference line, and means for angular adjustment of said second support to return said second member gauging surface to the same position in said rectilinear path which it occupied previous to said predetermined rectilinear movement of the first support and while maintaining said first and second supports in the position of said predetermined rectilinear movement; whereby to effect a predetermined angular movement of said second support relative to said reference line. WALLACE J. S. JOHNSON. 

